One of the better stories in this year's draft comes out of Albuquerque, where DJ Peterson has established himself as one of the top hitters in college baseball as well as a possible first-rounder.

Nearly three years ago, the then-high school senior was on the verge of joining Arizona's baseball team.

Long story short: Due to a logjam, Arizona lost interest. And the Wildcats' loss became New Mexico's gain.

Peterson, now a junior third baseman for the Lobos, is hitting .410 this season with 13 home runs and 58 RBIs. He plays in a hitter-friendly ballpark, but clearly ranks among the best in a college class thin on pure bats. He lacks ideal range at third and most likely will end up at first.

While his offensive potential has him shooting up draft boards, he may not yet be a first-round pick. Still, if he's available a bit later in Day 1, the Padres will take a look. Peterson could be the best overall talent at that point.